Q:

Gluten can set off a range of negative responses in some people's immune systems. An extreme example is celiac disease. Normally we have tiny, hair-like projections (villi) that line the small intestine like a plush carpet, absorbing vitamins, minerals and other nutrients from food. But according to the Mayo Clinic's website, celiac disease makes the inner surface of the small intestine appear more like a tile floor.

"Celiac disease sufferers have a full fledged natural auto-immunity to the protein gluten. The gluten does not react to them directly," said Eric Sieden, director of nutrition and food services at Plainview Hospital. "What ends up happening to people with celiac disease is that the body will react to the gluten by having the white blood cells attack the intestinal wall causing inflammation and loss of nutrient absorption."

Q:

"A gluten intolerance/allergy/sensitivity works differently with the immune system where the gluten protein itself causes the body to attack itself through inflammation in the small intestine," explained Sieden. The body starts to beat itself up, even though it's aiming for the gluten.

"Some researchers have labeled the intolerance/sensitivity as NCGS (non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity). Though this is a label that researchers have put on it, physicians have not been so quick to define it as a medical condition," said Sieden. "The reason for this is that there is no defined medical test for it."

For celiac disease, patients undergo a biopsy in order to determine a diagnosis. There's not much doctors can do in order to test for gluten sensitivity.

Additionally, these "gluten sensitivities" might belong to a broader family of wheat-related problems. More specific tests are being developed in hopes of cutting out the "constituents of grains that make them ill."

...gravies, imitation meats/fish, matzah...

Flour is used to thicken gravy; imitation crab meat is made from ground white fish and a binding agent (normally the enzyme transglutaminase, but occasionally egg whites are used); matzah is an unleavened bread made from any of the five grains mentioned in the Torah: wheat, barley, spelt, rye and oats.

...pastas, lunch meats, salad dressings...

Pasta noodles are made from wheat-based flours or other grains; processed deli meats could contain seasonings that contain gluten or were combined with breadcrumbs as a filler; some salad dressings could contain gluten which acts as a thickening agent, while others could be made with soy sauce or other flavors that are derived from wheat sources.

...(soy) sauces, seasoned rice mixes, seasoned chips...

Soy sauce is normally made from fermented soy beans and wheat; seasoned rice mixes (like Zatarain's, among others) could contain wheat or barley flour; seasoned potato or tortilla chips could contain wheat or barley flour or were processed on the same equipment as other wheat-based snacks.

... or self-basting poultry, soups, vegetables cooked in some sauces.

Self-basting poultry could contain flavor enhancers or other "natural solutions" that have wheat- or gluten-based ingredients; wheat-based flours are used in some soups to thicken them; some vegetables on restaurant menus are cooked in soy-based sauces which could contain wheat.

The key is to check ingredient labels very thoroughly for any wheat-, barley-, and rye- derived ingredients. Some ingredient labels now contain allergen information, so there's less guesswork involved.

Hints:- Some ingredients that are "malted" (like some vinegars!) could be dangerous. - Watch out for seitan, as that is just wheat gluten.- Look for words like "breading" or "natural flavors," as these could be hidden gluten.

If you're unsure if you can trust a brand, or if you'd like to doublecheck a product's ingredients, more and more websites have an FAQ that will most likely contain information about any gluten or wheat used.

Q:

If you're allergic/intolerant, yes. If you're fine with gluten, not necessarily.

"It’s been proposed that simply the act of making their diet healthier (i.e., adding more fruits and veggies, (eating) less processed foods) may be what causes them to ‘feel better’ and lose weight, rather than the lack of gluten," said O'Connor.

"While it is a current trend to ditch gluten from your diet, there are no benefits from withholding it if you do not have an intolerance," said Sieden.

"I don't think a gluten-free diet is a healthier option for the general public," said Laura Manning, an RD in the Division of Gastroenterology at the Mount Sinai Hospital. "Overall what we need to do is eat less processed white flour products, eat more fruits and vegetables, and increase exercise."

Q:

Some provide a necessary service to the community, others are potentially capitalizing on the popularity of the diet.

“Today, I see manufacturers are printing ‘gluten-free’ on food products unnecessarily just to get in on the trend,” said Sieden. “I compare it to when trans fats were being banned. I remember seeing ‘trans fat-free’ on a box of raisins. Come on!”

Q:

"Despite the recent evidence that wheat sensitivities are more numerous and varied than previously realized, research has also revealed that many people who think they have such reactions do not. In a 2010 study, only 12 of 32 individuals who said they felt better on a diet that excluded gluten or other wheat proteins actually had an adverse reaction to those molecules."

So, now you know:

• Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye (and all foods containing those components).

• If you suffer from the common symptoms of celiac disease, or think you may suffer from a gluten intolerance, consider eliminating gluten from your diet. Better yet, see if your doctor can properly diagnose you so that you'll know for sure what you should be avoiding.

• If you're OK with gluten currently, there's not much you can gain from cutting it out. You should probably be eating more fruits and veggies, anyways.

• Be aware of cross-contaminating shared cooking spaces if your roommates, friends or family are sensitive. Also, be mindful of food labels that warn of cross-contamination if you're severely allergic.